Machine for assembling shoe bottom parts



Feb. 23, 1954 E. F. STACEY MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING SHOE BOTTOM PARTS 3 Sheets-Sheet .l

- Filed May 26, 1951 J4 Inizenior ErnesiFfliaceg Feb. 1954 E. F. STACEY MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING SHOE BOTTOM PARTS Filed May 26, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lnvenior Ernesi Ffi'zfacey for ey Feb. 23, 1954 E. F. STACEY MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING SHOE BOTTOM PARTS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 26, 1951 Patented Feb. 23, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE Ernest F. Stacey, Beverly, Mass, assignor' to United ShoeMachinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J a corporation of New Jersey Application May 26, 1951,. Serial No. 228,381

20 Claims. 1

This invention relates to machines for use in assembling and molding shoe bottom parts to viormintegral shoe bottom units and is illustrated herein by way of example as embodied in a machine of the general type illustrated in United State Letters Patent No. 2,083,583, granted'June 15, 1937, on an application filed in the name of John M'. Whelton.

In machines of'the' type referred to, a plurality of shoe bottom parts, including aninsolaa premolded shank stiffener and a reinforcing member or shank and heel piece, are assembled together and compressed or molded into an integral shoe bottom unit, the parts being previously coated with cement to cause them to adhere to each other. Machines of this type are provided with a work supporter lower mold and an upper mold or' pressing member, and they are also provided with means for relatively positioning the shoe bottom parts on the lower mold or support. Heretofore in machine of this character, the insole has been positioned on the support by gaging means in the form of fingers which engage the shank and heel portions of the insole andposition it laterally or'widthwise of the support, and also by a single gage or abutment at the forepart of the support against which the toe end of the insole is placed to position it lengthwise of the support. The preformed shank-stiffener has been positioned on the support relatively to the insole by a forked gage arr'angedto straddle thef'ront end of theshank stiffener and position itwidthwise of the support, and also by an adj'ustahl'e gage or plate which provides an abutment against which the forward end of the stiffener may be moved to position the latter lengthwiseof the support.

Although the shank stiffener has always been positioned accurately len thwise of thesupport,

and it's forward encl has also been postionetl accurately widthwise of the support, the gage for performing this latter function has also been re- "lied upon to position the rearward end of the shank stiffener Widthwise' of the" support, this gage: having parallel confronting surfaces thereon which engage substantial lengths of the opposite edge faces of the stifiener and'thereby controlxto'a limited extent the angle of the shank stiffener laterally of the support. While this conslight variations or differences in the widthwise position of the rear end of the shank. stiffener would obviously result from this procedure because the operator was obliged to centralize or position the rear end of the shank stiiiener partly by skill or judgment. great discrepencies in theposition of the rear end oi the shank stiffeners would be likely to occur, because of the parallel surfaces referred to on the forward gage, nevertheless it was possible for the operator to locate the rear ends of successive shank stiifeners in slightly different positions widthwise of the support or the insoles resting thereon. Moreover, since no means was provided for holding the rear 0: heel end of the shank stifi'ener in a predetermined widthwise position on the support until after the parts had been clamped or pressed together against the support, it was also possible for the rear end of the shank stiffener to shift laterally of the support after it had been positioned thereon by the operator, thereby making it necessary for the operator to stop the operation of the machine and relocate the rear. end of the stiffener on the support; If the displacement of the shank stiffener shouldhappen to escape the attention of the operator, the resulting shot bottom unit would be imperfect or defective with respect to the location of the shank stiffener relatively to the other shoe parts. Although a slight lateral variation in the widthwise position of the rear end'of' the shank stiffener would probably not be serious enough to damage the shoe in which the unit was to be used, a larger displacement or variation might be suihcient in some cases to cause the heel attaching screw to strike the rear end of the shank stiiiener and be deflected from its normal path into the heel, thereby weakening the attachment of the heel to the shoe as Well as damaging the shun: stiffener. Since such a displacement would not ordinarily become l 'nown until the heel Was being attached to the shoe, it will be seen that even relatively small variations in the widthwise position of the rear end of the shank stiffener in a completed shoe bottom unit might, in some instances, prove extremely costly.

An. important object of the present invention is to overcome the difilculties pointed out above by insuring that the rear or heel end of the shank stiffener ina unit of this kind Will be accurately located. in every instance relatively to the work supporter the insole thereon so that every unit assembled on the machine will be exactly the same. A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for accomplishing this result which will not interfere" with the subse quentoperation of the machine. in producing the shoe bottom unit in the usual or normal manner,

Consequently, while no ii thereby permitting shoe bottom units to be produced as fast as they have been heretofore in such machines but more accurately and with less work or responsibility on the part of the. operator, particularly with respect to insuring that the rear ends of the shank stiffeners are properly located on the support at the start of the molding operation, and also to insuring that the parts do not inadvertently shift position widthwise of the support before the parts have been compressed or molded into an integral shoe bottom member.

To the accomplishment of these objects, the invention provides, in accordance with one feature, improved means in a machine of the type under consideration for positively determining or gaging the position of the rear or heel end of the shank stiffener widthwise of the support and relatively to the rear or heel ends of the insole and the reinforcing member which combine with the shank stiffener to form the complete shoe bottom unit. As herein illustrated, the

, means for positively determining the position of the rear end of the shank stifiener comprises a gage member, movable toward and away from the support and arranged to engage the rear or heel seat portion of the insole after the latter has been positioned on the support, said gage member being constructed and arranged to serve as a stop or abutment for positively locating the rear end portion of the shank stiffener widthwise of the support.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the positioning means or gage for cating the rear end of the shank stiffener widthwise of the support is arranged to be moved into operative position relatively to the support together with the means provided in the machine for positioning the forward end of the shank stiffener widthwise of the support, thereby insuring that both positioning means will be located in an operative position relatively to the support at substantially the same time and before the shank stiffener is to be positioned on the support.

In accordance with still another feature of the present invention, the improved means for positioning the rear end of the shank stiffener widthwise of the support is further arranged to be removed from operative position relatively to Y the support automatically before the molding operation is begun but while the mechanisms for positioning the forward end of the shank stifiener widthwise and lengthwise of the support are still located in operative position, thereby permitting the molding operation to take place at the shank and heel portions of the insole and other shoe bottom parts without interference from the present means which now positions the rear end of the shank stiffener positively on the support. As herein illustrated, the means in the present construction for automatically removing the rear end positioning means or gage from the vicinity of the work support after the gage has served its purpose comprises spring means operating independently upon said gage together With a hook and latch arrangement which is actuated automatically during the operation of the machine to permit said spring means to return the rear positioning means or gage to an elevated position before the molding operation takes place but not until after the shoe bottom parts have been pressed initially against the support to insure that the shank stiffener will not inadvertently shift position widthwise of the support after t e 1 1 gage has been removed but before the upper mold of the machine has been brought into operative position relatively to the shoe bottom parts.

With the above and other objects and features in view, the invention will now be described in detail in connection with the accompanying drawings and will thereafter be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a machine for assembling and molding shoe bottom parts embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of th assembling and molding instrumentalities 0f the machine with parts shown in section, the mechanism being shown partially operated;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the work support and positioning means with the latter located in operative relation to shoe bottom parts mounted on the support;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 after the work positioning means has performed its function and a part of this mechanism has been withdrawn from operative position; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of the positioning means at the forward end of the shoe bottom parts in the fully operated position i1- lustrated in Fig. 4.

The illustrated machine for assembling and molding shoe bottom parts to form a shoe bottom or insole unit is substantially the same in its general organization as the machine illustrated in the Whelton patent referred to above. As disclosed in that patent, the machine is provided with mold members In and I2 which operate to press together shoe bottom parts previously coated with cement, the parts comprising an insole of usual construction, a premolded shank stiffener of metal and a reinforcing member or shank and heel piece usually composed of moldable material such as fiber, this latter member reinforcing the shank and heel seat portions of the shoe bottom unit and being cut to a shape and size which conforms accurately to the insole to which it is to be attached.

The mold I2 forms a part of the means for supporting the shoe bottom parts while they are being molded into an integral unit, the section [2 of the support preferably comprising a wooden block having an upper surface shaped to conform the heel and shank portions of the unit into the desired configuration. The support for the shoe bottom parts also includes a relatively flat forepart section l4 formed by a cast-iron frame It which slants downwardly from left to right, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 3, and has an interchangeable steel block [8 embedded therein for supporting the sole in the region of the ball line. The frame member I6 is located on the base of the machine by dowels 29 as shown in Fig. l. The upper mold or presser member ID is carried by an over-hanging arm 22 mounted for swinging movement forwardly and rearwardly of the support and provided with a handle 24 whereby it may be swung forwardly by an operator to bring the mold In into vertical alinement with the mold or block l2 of the support. As disclosed in the patent referred to, such movement of the arm 22 actuates power-operated mechanism, indicated generally in Fig. 1 by the reference numeral 26, for moving the mold l0 downwardly and thereby causing it to press the shoe bottom parts together to mold them to the shape of the lower mold or 191901.: 12.

amazes The insole a is-positioned on the support l2: n w two pairs of positioningsgageswor fingers; 28irland 30*- which are arranged to" centralize the insole on the: support, the fingers: lifllextending verticallyfrom-thel free ends of :arms 321pivotal1yi mounted onr screws 3'4 and geared together fonequal and oppositermovement, thesefingerscbeingsarranged towenga'gevthe opposite edge faces of the insole; andialsothe reinforcing piece subsequently" assembled: thereon, at substantially-the narrowest point ottheshank portions of thosetwo members: The fingers flli aremounted on arms 3Swhich are also pivoted on thescrews-M and are shorter than the =arms='32 so that the fingers will engage the opposite edge faces of the insole and-reinforcing member at substantially the widest vpart of the heel'lportions thereof; the arms 3'8 being likewise interconnectecl'by gear segments:- for equal and opposite movement toward and away from the workl pieces: to centralize them relatively to the support; As disclosed in the patentreferredxto, this assemblage of positioning fingers is mounted onar-verticallymovable carriage or slide 3&"(Figz 1i which'is depressed automatically against a spring: (not shown) when the uppermold or presser "I is brought into operation; thereby moving the positioning fingers 28 and 30: to a lower level so that they will notinterfere with the downward-movement of the presser= lo when the shoe bottom parts'are being molded against :the member: l2 of the support; In orderto depress the fingers'28, 30, the-arm 22 is pro-videdwith'a laterally extending boss All (Fig. 1) which hasa plug 42 secured-therein which is located position to register with one of th'e screws 34- W-h6l'l the presser It is moved forwardly over the support 12, 14: When the presser descends; as-will bealater explained. the plug 62 engages the screw 34-1 and" depressesnthe: slide 38 and the fingers 2'8 and 303 so that the presser does not touo-h the fingers;

The .insole is located lengthwiseof the support t2; [4 by: positioning means carried bythe'forepartlsection M of the support; this-means comprising: a rectangular" holder 44 mounted in a cavity-46 formed inthe casting or-frame member I6: Ahplurality of gaging plates or abutments tt of uniform thickness: are stacked in face-to-face contactiwith each other in the ho1derr44 and two parallel rods or pinsinot shown) extend through theseiplates, the rods passing" through two: inclined slots (not shown). constituting cams which elevate or: lower the plates in consequence of shiftingthem endwise in the holder. When any one plate is'raised bythis. endwise. movement; it

provides an abutment against which the toeend or: an insole may be placed to position theinso le lengthwisesorthe:support 12, M A scalevfiti is providedlfor indicating the sizesor lengthslof'the insoles and is held in" place by a thumb screw Billdi. springs clip 52. An insole; forreimmple;- the insole A illustrated in the drawings; is thus locatedi widthwise or-laterally ot'the supporti [2' I 4; by'the twopairs: of fingers28and 30; andriit isilocated lengthwisetof. the. support by the ape propriate gage plate 48.

Whenthe. insoleA" has beenwlocated in the cle sired position ontthe support 12, l'dlbythe appros priate gagesplate 48 and the twapairs offingers Zitzandiilt, thetoperator depressesFa's treadle (not shown) which, through aitreadlelrod 54; (Fig.1 I), lewers" an assemblage of relatively? movable members in a fixed vertical path against the upper surface; of: the insole.- intthefvifiimity"Of'ithfl hallelineithereby pressmgithel-insole againsttthe 6-! support;iparticularimhabloclr 189,1: Withrfiflfllfiififlfi pressure'itoi bend: the SO'lQeiiIlfGO :cqnformityaswi h the curvaturelof thflbloekjilfiii Thispperat-Mn serves; tcrhold the insole temporarily in position on thee-support and prevents the toeiendi ofcthfi insolelfroml rising out of; engagement with the gage-plate;ontheiheel seat portionafrom spring; ing out of} engagement with; the '1 positioning fingers 28:";and 30:

The assemblage depressedby-the treadlel rqd 54" ELSLdiSCl'OSEd in s the; patent referred to,; comprises aiverticallyrmovableblocker head 56,qa relatively movable slide bar 58 mortised; therein, and an: other. relatively: movableaslide ban-60 mortised into-:the-bar 58.; Theislide ban-5Bv isynormally den pressed. relatively toithehead 5.6,:by-a springfil while=theslide bar 60. is normally depressed rela: tively to the bar 58 by a spring 64.. A stop-pin 6,6 carriedrby thebar 58 is arrangedto engagel-the upper surfaces-of. the head 56-?13011il1'ii17 downward slidingwmovement of the bar 5%. while ag similan stop-pin:68 carried by the slide bar fitiisxarranged to engage the upper end ofthe bar 58ztoplirnit rela ativeadownward movement of the bar-610..

The lower end of the slide bar Gil is forkedlto provide two fingers lilshaving confronting parak-- lel surfaces spaced apart 'a distance equalntoithe widthi of 'the forward end of asteel shanks.- stiffenensuch as that indicated, by the letter-B inthedrawings. These parallel: fingers, Tin-ope erate to: locate the forward end: ofiatheshank? stiffener widthwise of; the support-12", Mhand they also operate; when brought'tdown upon the ine sole lto press the latteragainstthe. blockull! of the :supportandtherebyyassist in :bending the sole over this portion of the support,

The lowerend of the vertically movable slide bar fil carriesa gage l2 forilocating the; forward end of; the shank-stiffener B lengthwise of the sup ort [2: M and in register with theicurvaturc of the-block IBfOf thesupport; The gage. 121is secured tola horizontal pin. 14 rotatably: mounted in theslidexbartii jand provided with a; handle lfiiby which; it may berturned'in nthe sligdel bar: The gage. t2: has asseries of fla-t surfaces or lands 1 8' thereonwarranged in stepped relation to each 0131361 950 that, by turning the handle TB"; oneof these-fiat surfaces. ltzmay be brought into operative: position in register with the: parallel fingers 'lflrwhich are, arranged to; straddlew the forwardeend sot the shank-stiffener" to position it widthwiseaofthe support, the gage i2; ass'stated', locating: the shank-stiffener lengthwise of the support; In positioning the forwardendtof the shanks-stirlener on the support, the operator-inserts: said forward end between the parallel fingers 'IQ'J'aIIQ'mOl/ES the stiffener toward; the toe endrof the insole untilzit abuts against whicheverioneiof the surfaces l8i oi the ga e is: then in operative; position. In this way: the l steel shankestifienerB is positioned lengthwiseotlthe support 12;; M and of theinsoley-A, audits;- foraward'r' end is located widthwise of 'the support and; insole; Since the construction and operation either-gage llisfully disclosedin the Whel-J ton patent above referred to, afurther descripje tion thereof need not be-given herein.

As illustrated in Figs. 1; 3 and 5, afinger B0- is rigidlysecured by screws to the movable head orblook 56- and the lower end of this-linger e located between the parallel fingers 10-, which position the forward end of theshank-stifiener wi'dthwise of the support The function ofthe finger-Bods tori- 5 the:iorwardendof'the shankstiftener. against-the insoleinpursuaneeeofffinel 7 depression of the treadle and treadle rod 54, as will be explained more fully hereinafter.

As described in the patent referred to, the block or head 56 is provided with a rearwardly extending arm 82 (Fig. 2) which is secured to the upper end of a vertical shaft 86 slidable in bearings in the frame l6 and connected at its lower end to the treadle rod 54 (Fig. l), the shaft being held against rotation in the frame by an arm 86 fastened to the shaft and engaging a fixed vertical guide-pin 66. The shaft 84 is maintained normally in its elevated position by a tension spring 66 extending between the frame and the treadle rod 54, thereby holding the block 56 in its highest position which is a sufficient distance above the support I2, I4 to avoid obstructing the positioning of the insole on the support. I

In the operation of the mechanism thus far described, the operator, after locating the insole A on the support I 2, I4 in the manner described above, depresses the treadle to lower the treadle rod 54 and move the shaft 84 downwardly, thereby moving the block 56 and mechanism carried thereby downwardly toward the insole. The parallel fingers if] on the slide bar 60 will be the first element of the vertically movable assemblage to engage the upper surface of the insole. The spring 6d will yield to permit the slide bar 58 to continue its downward movement untilits lower extremity also engages the insole and is arrested thereby, the spring 62 now being effective to maintain the pressure of the bar 58 against the insole, the bar 58 being offset, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, to provide space for the gage 12. The lower edge of the gage I2 and the lower end of the slide bar 56 are substantially fiush and consequently these members bear against the upper surface of the insole A and have a bending and clamping effect thereon. The resistance of the springs 64 and 62 added to that of the tension spring 66 (Fig. 1) indicates to the operator that the insole is now firmly pressed against the support I2, I4 and is bent around the block I8 even though the block or head 56 will not, at this time, have been depressed to its lowest position. When the mechanism has assumed this position, the operator will interrupt the downward movement of the treadle and will superpose the shank-stiffener B upon the insole A and locate the forward end of the shankstiffener on the support by inserting it between the parallel fingers l6 and moving it forwardly until it strikes against the gage I2. The forward end of the shank-stiffener having been thus located both widthwise and lengthwise relatively to the support I2, i6, and also relatively to the insole A, the operator depresses the treadle further to move the treadle rod 54 downwardly to its lowest position, thereby moving the block 56 into its lowest position and causing the rigid finger 86 to move downwardly, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, to engage the forward end of the shankstiffener B and press it firmly against the insole A, the springs 62 and 64 yielding to permit this further downward movement of the block 56 relatively to the slide bars 58 and 66.

It will be noted from the foregoing that, although the shank stiffener B has been positively located at its forward end lengthwise of the support by the gage l2, and although the stiffener has also been accurately positioned at its forward end widthwise of the support by the parallel fingers 16, it has not yet been positively positioned widthwise of the support at its rearward or opposite end. In the machine of the Whelton patent referred to, as stated above, the position of the rear or heel end of the shank stiffener widthwise of the support was determined in a general way by the extent of contact of the confronting parallel surfaces of the two fingers T6 with the longitudinal edges of the shank stiffener, this contact having been regarded as sufficient to position the rear end of the stiffener widthwise of the support.

The widthwise position of the rear end of the shank stiffener B on the support I2, I4 is determined or controlled in accordance with the present invention in the following manner. The overhanging arm 22 (Figs. 1 and 2), which carries the upper mold I6, has a boss 92 thereon which forms a lower bearing for a plunger 94 which operates the mold i6. The boss 92 has a plate 66 secured to its forward end by screws 98 and this plate is provided, at its central portion, with a forwardly extending vertical flange or rib I00. Adjustably secured to the rib I06 by screws I62 is a fixed bracket I66. The opposite ends of the vertical bracket Hi4 project forwardly, as illustrated in Fig. 2, to form arms having holes bored therein which are in vertical alinement with each other and which receive a rod E66 arranged for sliding movement heightwise of the bracket I04. Secured by set screws to the lower end of the sliding rod 66 is a block I66 having a groove or guideway I I2 formed in its left-hand side wall, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 3. Adjustably mounted in the guideway i I2 by a shoulder screw I I4 is a gage II6 which, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, projects downwardly from the block and is substantially triangular in shape, as viewed from the front of the machine, so that it has a relatively long lower portion opposite the work support I2, I4, the gage having formed therein a horizontal slot III) to permit adjustment thereof transversely of the work support The upper portion of the rod I66 has an elongated casting II8 slidably mounted thereon by means of laterally projecting arms at its opposite ends, the lower end of the casting being also provided with a laterally extending arm or hook I26. The casting H8 is normally supported in an elevated position on the rod I06 by a spring 522 interposed between the casting and the lower arm of the fixed bracket I64. The rod is prevented from turning in the bracket I64 by a screw I24 threaded into the lower arm of the bracket and extending into a vertical slot or keyway I26 in the rod. The casting H8 is prevented from turning on the rod I66 by a screw I36 threaded into the lower arm of the casting and also extending into the keyway E26. Consequently, the arm or hook I26 which, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 3, extends toward the right or parallel to the work support !2, i4, is maintained permanently in that position. The gage H6 is normally located in an elevated or inoperative position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, by the spring I22 which forces the casting H8 upwardly on the rod I66 until the upper arm of the casting engages a collar I32 pinned to the upper end of the rod, thereby holding the casting I I8, the rod I66, and the gage H6 in their elevated positions. Substantially midway between the laterally extending arms of the casting M6, the rod I66 has a second collar I34 fastened thereto by a setscrew and, interposed between the collar I34 and the upper arm of the casting H6, is a spring I36. The spring I36 tends to urge the casting II8 upwardly relatively to the rod I66, thereby maintaining the casting normally in its upper position i eratively to the rod. "Asillustrated in the drawings the gage I I6 'is'lo'cated slightly to the left ofthe center of the section l2 of the worksuppor't, thereby "locating thelower edgeportion of the gagesubstantially opposite the heel breast line of an insole mounted on the support. Since the gage is elongated lengthwise "of the support, itslower edgeportioh will extend asub'stantial dis'tanc'eeither side of the heel breast line of the insole.

The block'56 of theverticauy movable assemblage has secured by screws to its innenside, as viewed inIigs. land 3, a s'rnalltria'ngular shaped bracket 138 which extends toward the left and has a latch "or pawl 'I itpivotally mounted thereonbyme'ansfof a screW MZ. A lower a'rm'on the latch "l 40 is "located in a position 'toengage the hook I20 on the casting I '8 whenthe'partsare located in an elevated or inoperative positionjas shown in Fig. 1, 'thela'tch beingfurged 'ina clock- Wise directieh about itsp'ivot MZbyaspring I44. The upper armtr the latch Mt extends'toward the right and engagesacamplate M6 securedin anysuitable manner "to the slide bar "60. illustrated in Figs. 3 and "4, the cam plate 146 slants outwardly or toward the left from itsupper to its lower end. I I

"in assembling the shoebottom'parts in the machine, the operatonfirst positions the insole A on the support I2, M, as describedabove, and he then depresses the treadle to lower the treadle rod 54 and move the vertically'inovable assemblage carried by theblock 5t downwardly. The latch I40, being in'engagement at that time with themes m on theslidable casting'IIB, causes the latter to movedownvvardly with the movable assemblage and, through the spring I 36, cau es the castingttoflower the vertical rod M6 to move the gage llfid'ownwardly toward the section I2 6f thework suppert, thereby bringingthe gage into en agement with" the" insole 'A on the support, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The operator then stops depressing the treadle and introduces the forward end of the shank stiffener B between the paranerarr'ns "F on the sliding bar stand moves thes'tilfener toward'the right into engagement with the 'gag'e"l2, thereby locating the rcrward end or the shank stiffener "both lengthwise and widthwise of the support. The gage H6 having been locatedin operative position relatively' tofthesection fz' of the support simultaneously with the forward gages 10- and I2; the "operator can now move the rearward end ofthe' shank stiffener inwardly '-on the support user the inner edge of 'its rear or left-hand end portion engages the forward surface of the gage H6, thereby positively locating the'rear or lefthafid 6nd of the shank -stifie'ner widthwise of the support I2. Since the gage H6 is adjustable *widthwise 0f the support, as illustrated in Fig. 2,by the tongue and groove "arrangement [I2 previ'o'usly referredto, the gage can 'always beinitially adjusted relatively to thesupport or the-insole A so thatthe rear or heel end of the shank stiffener can be located in exactly the desired position widthwise of the support regardless of the size or shape of the rear end of the shank stiffener. I

Having thus positively located the shank stifienr B both lengthwise and widthwise of the support '12, I4 and insole A, the operator is'now ready to niove the presser'foot 80 downwardly mtwengageme t'witu "the shank stiffener and thereby "press the stifiener and insole "firmly figa'i'n'st the "support in thevicini'ty of the ball line 'of'the insoleor, as illustrated in Figs. B'an'd 5,"in the -vicinity of the interchangeable block I8 which forms a part of the support. Theoperator :uep'resses thetreadle to move the trea'dle rod 54 downwardly to' the lowerlirnitof itsdownward movement, "thereby moving the block 56 downwardly relatively to the slide'bars 58 and 6 b to bring the p resserniember Bil into engager'n'en'twith the forward end'ofthe shank stifiener B, as illustratedinFigs. 4 and 5. Downward movement or the "block 56 'movesthelatch I40 downwardly'relatiyel'y tothe 'cam plate I46 so that the upper armbfthe latch is forced outwardly or toward the left 'by the inclined surface of the caihplate, thereby disconnecting the latch fro nthe hook [Zlbon the 's'lidable casting II'8 Release "of "the casting I H3 permits the spring IZEto elevate "the casting until its upper arm engages the collar i32ffixedtothe'rod H16, thereby moving the'rod itself upwardly until the block IGto'n the lower "end of the rod engages the 'lower'arm or'boss' on the fixed bracket Hi4, thereby returning the gage H6 into its upper or inoperative position, as illustrated in Fig. "4. Since thegage He "has now been returned automatically to its elevated orinoperative position, the" upper surface "of the insole A is free of the obstruction caused by this gage and, according- 1y, thereinforcingmember or shank and heel piece referred tomay'bemounted upon the assembled insole and shank stiffener, the shank and heel piece being indicated'in Figs. 4 'andl5 by the letter C. As stated above; theshankand heel p iece'conforms in outline to the shank'a'nd heel portions of the insole A and, accordingly, itcanbe positioned on the insole in alinement with the periphery thereof by the positioning fingers'ZB and3IL-which are still locatedin operativeposltion against the-edge face of the insole to maintain it in itsUp-roper lateral position on the support. The shank'and heelpiece is located lengthwiseof 'theinsole, asdescribed in the Whelton patent, 'by the operator :placing one finger against the rear edge jdf the shank andhel piece and the "rear edge er the insole. The forward endof the shank an'dheel piece C is cut away by a U-shaped slot, asillustrated in the patent referred to, so that the front end of the shank stiffener-B may extensthrough this "slot, this being the usual "manner of assembling these three parts'whenforming a shoe bottom unit. The U-shaped slot inthe forward'end of the shankand heel piece C is of sufiicient' width to straddle the "parallerfing'ers 7B of the slide bar Bil, as illustrated in Fig. 5, the shank and heel piece usually terminating somewhat short of the gage 72 which locates theshank stiffener lengthwise of the support.

With the three shoe parts located in the manner'justdescribed;'thebperator swings the arm zzfforwardly by its hand1e24 to move the upper meld I B into vertical alinement with thesection I2 ofthe work sup-port. As disclosed in the patent referred to, suchhiovement of theswinging arm 22 automaticallystarts the operation "of the power-operatedmeehahism 26 of the machine by tripping a one-revolution clutch and thereby causing this mechanism tomove the plunger 94 downwardly tobrin'g the upper mold I0 against the asse'inbledshoe bottom members'now held by the p resser on the support 'I2, 54. As indicated above,downwardmovement of 'the plunger 94 'and'upp'er mold IB causesthe plug'42 "(Fig 1) todescend"intoi 'engagement with one f the pivots" 34 or the positioning fingers 28 'andtflfthere- 11 by depressing these fingers so that they will not interfere with the molding operation performed by the upper mold it).

After the machine has operated through one complete revolution or cycle, the clutch of the operating mechanism 26 is automatically thrown out of operation and the mold Ill is elevated to its initial position, after which the arm 22 is swung rearwardly into its inoperative position. Simultaneously with such movement, or earlier if desired, the operator releases the treadle to permit the treadle rod 5 3 to be elevated by the spring 99, thereby returning the vertically movable assemblage including the block 5% upwardly to the inoperative position shown in Fig. 1. This action causes the slide bars 58 and 66 to be returned automatically through their springs 62, t l to their inoperative positions illustrated in Fig. 1 so that the latch :40 is raised again relatively to the slide bar 60 to move the upper arm of the latch upwardly beyond the inclined surface on the cam plate M6. Such action permits the latch Hid to snap over the hook I28 on the casting lit and thereby be located in a position to engage said hook upon the next depression of the treadle and treadle rod 54. Accordingly, when the next set of shoe bottom parts is being assembled in the machine, the latch M0 will lower the gage H6 with the forward gages lb and 12 in the manner already described and thereby permit the rear end of the shank stiffener to be positively located widthwise of the support at the same time that the forward end of the stiffener is located lengthwise and widthwise of the support.

Although the invention has been disclosed herein by way of example as embodied in a machine for assembling and molding shoe bottom parts to produce integral shoe bottom units, the invention is obviously not limited-in its utility to machines of that particular type but is applicable more generally in its broader as pects to machines for performing operations other than assembling and molding operations.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A machine for use in assembling shoe bottom parts having, in combination, a support for said parts, means movable toward and away from the support for positioning one of said parts lengthwise of the support, means movable toward and away from the support with said movable means for positioning one end portion of said part widthwise of the other part, and means movable toward the support with both of said first-named positioning means for positioning the opposite end portion of said one part widthwise of the other part.

2. A machine for use in assembling shoe bottom parts having, in combination, a support for said parts, means for positioning said parts relatively to each other lengthwise of the support, and means movable toward and away from the support for engaging the opposite end portions of one of said parts and positioning them widthwise of the other part.

3. A machine for use in assembling shoe bottom parts having, in combination, a support for said parts, means movable toward and away from the support for positioning one of said parts lengthwise of the support, means movable with said positioning means for positioning one end of said part widthwise of the support, means movable toward the support with both of said 12 first-named positioning means for positioning the other end of the said part widthwise of the support, and means for moving said last-named positioning means away from the support independently of the two first-named positioning means.

i. A machine for use in assembling shoe bottom parts having, in combination, a support for said parts, means movable toward and away from the support for positioning one of said parts lengthwise of the support, means movable toward and away from the support with said positioning means for positioning one end of said part widthwise of the support, means movable toward the support with both of said first-named positioning means for engaging the opposite end of said part and positioning it widthwise of the support, and means for moving said last-named positioning means away from the support prior to the movement of the two first-named positioning means away from said support.

5. A machine for use in assembling shoe bottom parts having, in combination, a support for the parts to be assembled, means for positioning the parts relatively to each other lengthwise of the support, said means acting also to position one end of one of said parts widthwise of the support, and means separate from said positioning means for positioning the other end of said part widthwise of the support.

6. A machine for assembling a plurality of shoe parts to form a shoe bottom unit having, in combination, a support for the shoe parts, means for applying pressure to said parts to mold them into an integral shoe bottom unit, means movable toward and away from the support for positioning one end portion of one of said parts widthwise of the other part, and means movable toward the support with said movable means for determining the widthwise position of the other end portion of said one part relatively to said other part.

7. A machine for use in assembling shoe bottom parts having, in combination, a support for said parts, means for locating one of said parts lengthwise and widthwise of the support, means for locating another of said parts lengthwise of the first-named part, and means separate from said last-named means for engaging the opposite ends of said other part and positioning them widthwise of said first-named part.

8. A machine for use in assemblin shoe bottom parts having, in combination, a support for said parts, means for locating one of said parts lengthwise and widthwise of the support, means movable toward and away from the support for locating another of said parts lengthwise of the first-named part, means separate from said movable means but movable therewith for locating one end of said other part widthwise of the firstnamed part, and means movable toward the support with the two first-named movable means for locating the other end of said other part widthwise of the first-named part, said lastnamed means being movable away from the support independently of the said two first-named movable means. V

9. A machine for use in assembling shoe bottom parts having, in combination, a support for said parts, means for locating one of saidparts lengthwise and widthwise of the support, means movable toward and away from the support for locating another one of said parts lengthwise of the first-named part, means movable with said isstaiain'ea means for locating the and of said otherpartwidthwis'e of the 'first nained part, andtoin parts, comprising an insole and a shank stiffener, having, in combination, a support for said parts, means for positioning an insole and shank 'stiiiener relatively to each other lengthwise of the support, means for position ng the forward end of said shank stiffener widthwise or the insole, and'means movable toward'and-away from the support for positioning the rear end of said-shank stiffener widthwise of the insole.

11. A machine for use in assembling shoe bottom parts having, in combination, a supportfo'r said parts, means on the support for positioning one of said parts lengthwise of the support, means movable toward. and away from the supportfor positioning another of said'parts lengthwise o the first-named part, means movable toward an a ay from the support with said ast-"nar-ed means for os tion ng one end of said othe part 'idth 'ise of the first-named part, and

m ans searate from the two rn'ovable positionhe r"eans but mo able toward the support therew th or position ng the ot er endof said other pa t 'dthwise of the support.

12. A machine for use in assembling shoe bottom parts having, in combination, a support for said arts, means carried by the support for posit oning one of said parts lengthwise ofthe support, means mova le toward and away from the support for positioning another of said parts lengthw se of the su port, means movable toward and away'from the support with said lastn'amed means for positioning one end of said other part widthwise of the support, means separ'atefrom the two last-namedpositioning means forbositioni'ng the opposite end of said otherpart widthwise of the support, sa d separate means being movable toward the support with thetwo movable positioning means but being movable away from the support independently of said two movable positioning means, and means for movin said separate positioning means away from the support.

13. A mach ne for use in assembling shoe bottom parts having, in combination, a support for holding said parts in superimposed relation to each other, means carried by the support for positioning the lower shoe bottom part lengthwise of the support, means movable toward and away from the support for positioning an upper shoe bottom part lengthwise of the support, means movable toward and away from the support with said last-named means for positioning one end of said upper part widthwise of the support, and means additional to the two last-named positioning means for positioning the opposite end of said upper part widthwise of the support, said additional means being movable toward the support with the said two last-named positioning means but being movable away from the support independently of and prior to the movement of the said two last-named positioning means away from said support.

14. A machine for use in assembling shoe bottom parts having, in combination, a support for seam 14 said eans, means 'for positioning "the lengthwise of saidsiip'port, means movable to ward'an'daway from the support ior posit pm rg said parts widthwise or the support, a member for pressing thepartsagainst the support to hold them in position thereon, said pressing member also being movable toward and away from the support, and means actuated by movement of said member toward the support for moving the last-named positioning means away rr'om said support. A

15. A machine foruse in assembling shoe bot-' torn parts having, in combination, a support for said-parts, means i'novable'toward and awayf-roin the supp'ort for positioning the rear end of one of said parts widthwise of the suppor amember mt'ivabletiiward and away from said support'ror pressing the parts against the support after the rear end of said one part has 'been'positidiied ther'eon, thereby maintaining the parts in posi; tion onsai'ol supper-sans means for moving saiii pressing memter'towamans away from'the'siip po'rt, said last-named means being constructed and arranged to cause the positioning meansto move aws 'rrom the support when the pressing member moves into *operative relation with said parts.

1 6. Ainachin'e for use-in assembling shoe bottom parts having, in combination, asu'pport for saidparts,'means movable toward and away from operative position relatively to the support for positioning one of said parts widthwise or the support, a member movable toward and away rmmepeiauve position for pressing the parts against the support to hold them in position thereon after said one part has b'een'positio'rfed widthw'ise of said support'means acting to move the positioning means and said pressing member simultaneouslytoward the'sup'port to bring said positiom ng means into operative position, said last-'na'medmeans moving the pressing member only part way into operative position by such action, and means actuated automatically by movenre'ntof the pressing member fullyinto operative position for moving the positioningmeans away 'fiom'said operative position.

-1'7.A maohineforuse in assembling shoe bottom parts 1 having, -in combination, a support for said parts, means movable into and out of operative position for positioning one of said parts on the support, a member movable into and out of operative position for pressing the parts against the support to hold them against movement thereon after they have been positioned, manually-operated means for moving said pressing member and said positioning means simultaneously toward the support to bring the positioning means into operative position relatively to the support, said manually-operated. means moving the pressing member onlypart way into operative position by such action, and means actuated automatically by further movement of said manually-operated means in moving the pressing member fully into operative position for causing the positioning means to move out of operative position.

18. A machine for use in assembling shoe bottom parts having, in combination, a support for said parts, positioning means movable toward and away from said support for locating one end of one of said parts on the support, positioning means movable toward and away from said support for locating the other end of said part on the support, a member associated with the firstnamed positioning means for pressing the parts against the support to hold them in position thereon after said part has been thus located, treadle-operated means for moving said member and said first-named positioning means simultaneously toward the support to bring said firstnamed positioning means into operative position relatively to said part, connections between said first-named positioning means and the second positioning means for moving the latter into operative position simultaneously with the firstnamed positioning means, movement of said second positioning means into operative position also moving the pressing member part way toward the support, and means actuated by movement of said pressing member fully into operative position by further movement of said treadleoperated means for breaking said connections and causing said second positioning means to move out of operative position.

19. A machine for use in assembling shoe bottom parts having, in combination, a support for said parts, positioning means movable toward and away from said support for locating one end of one of said parts widthwise of the support, second positioning means movable toward and away from said support for locating the other end of said one part widthwise of the support, a. member associated with the first-named positioning means for pressing the parts against the support to hold them in position thereon after said one part has been located widthwise, means for moving the pressing member and said firstnamed positioning means toward the support to bring said positioning means into operative relation to said one part, a latch between said first-named positioning means and the second positioning means for causing the latter to move into operative position simultaneously with the movement of said first-named positioning means into operative position, movement of said second positioning means toward operative position also moving the pressing member part way into operative position, means actuated by movement of said pressing member fully into operative position for automatically disconnecting said latch and thereby permitting the second positioning means to be moved out of said operative position while the first-named positioning means and the pressing member remain in their operative positions, and means for moving said second positioning means out of operative position when said latch is disconnected.

20. A machine for use in assembling shoe bottom parts having, in combination, a support for said parts, means movable toward and away from said support for positioning one end of one of said parts on the support, means movable toward and away from the support for positioning the other end of said part on the support, a member movable toward and away from the support for engaging said parts and holding them in position on the support after said one part has been positioned thereon, a manually-operated means for moving the first-named positioning means and said pressing member toward the support to bring said first-named positioning means into operative position, said movement of the manually-operated means moving said pressing member only part way into its operative posi tion, a latch connecting said first-named positioning means to the second positioning means and arranged to cause the latter to be moved into operative position simultaneously with said first-named positioning means upon operation of said manually-operated means, means carried by said pressing member for automatically disconneoting said latch from said second positioning means upon movement of the pressing member fully into operative position by said manuallyoperated means, and spring means for returning the second positioning means into its inoperative position when said latch is released.

ERNEST F. STACEY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 554,652 Campbell Feb. 18, 1896 1,176,916 Lund Mar. 28, 1916 1,415,838 Grifliths et al. May 9, 1922 2,040,122 Card, Jr. May 12, 1936 2,083,583 Whelton June 15, 1937 2,185,941 Dunn Jan. 2, 1940 2,207,887 Johnston July 16, 1940 

